biostudies-literatureUnknown14(3)Khalili HIn this study, cellulose-based films were developed by using microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and lignin-containing microfibrillated cellulose (Lig-MFC) derived from sequentially extracted spruce bark. The films were coated with the hydrophilic extractives from the fractionation, resulting in additional MFC-coated and Lig-MFC-coated cellulose films. A combination of morphological (AFM), surface (water contact angle (WCA), roughness), optical (UV-vis), and mechanical properties was analyzed to assess structure-property relationships. Coated films exhibited significantly enhanced hydrophobicity and UV-shielding, with WCA increasing from 47° to 76° for MFC and from 66° to 71° for Lig-MFC. Notably, MFC-coated films displayed superior mechanical performance, with a tensile strength of 119 MPa aACS sustainable chemistry & engineering1596-1607https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12849044biostudies-literatureValorization of Spruce Bark to Environmentally Sustainable Packaging Materials.PMC12849044Muangmeesri SRamazanova LSamec JSMBraud LMathew APKhalili HfalseValorization of Spruce Bark to Environmentally Sustainable Packaging Materials.In this study, cellulose-based films were developed by using microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and lignin-containing microfibrillated cellulose (Lig-MFC) derived from sequentially extracted spruce bark. The films were coated with the hydrophilic extractives from the fractionation, resulting in additional MFC-coated and Lig-MFC-coated cellulose films. A combination of morphological (AFM), surface (water contact angle (WCA), roughness), optical (UV-vis), and mechanical properties was analyzed to assess structure-property relationships. Coated films exhibited significantly enhanced hydrophobicity and UV-shielding, with WCA increasing from 47° to 76° for MFC and from 66° to 71° for Lig-MFC. Notably, MFC-coated films displayed superior mechanical performance, with a tensile strength of 119 MPa a2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-14T05:33:16.47Z2026-06-14T03:09:29.355ZS-EPMC128490444161400210.1021/acssuschemeng.5c11166